Where Can You Stay Directly on Loch Ness? Is There Accommodation with a Beach?
- Jay
- Mar 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 20
Quick Answer: Can You Stay Directly on Loch Ness?
Yes! Lochside Hostel in Loch Ness is located directly on the Loch, with the door to your room only 15-30 metres away from the beach. There are very few accommodation options directly on the shoreline of the Loch, so this is a unique opportunity to sleep close enough to hear the Monster!
The hostel has its own bus stop with regular public transport throughout the day, free parking for guests, and is located just 15 minutes from major attractions like Urquhart Castle, and the tourist hub of Drumnadrochit.
If you use the code TRAVEL15 when making a reservation, you can get 15% off your stay midweek this April at Lochside Hostel in Loch Ness, exclusive to the Scotland's Top Hostels Travel Guide:
Read on to find out more about planning a backpacking trip to mythical Loch Ness!
Contents
Is There Accommodation on Loch Ness with a Beach?
Beaches directly on Loch Ness are few and far between - owing to the fact that Loch Ness makes up part of the Great Glen, a glacial valley that runs through the middle of the Highlands. As a deep Loch, it descends steeply, and as such there are only a few spots where you can dip a toe in and see if Nessie will bite!
Many of the budget accommodations and backpackers hostels located around the Loch are located in the centres of major villages, Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus, both of which are located a little away from the Loch's shore, but do offer great access to amenities like supermarkets, petrol stations and so forth.
The most famous beach on Loch Ness is probably Dores Beach, located at the top of the Loch close to Inverness. While offering a great view onto the Loch and being home to the research van of Nessie Hunter Steve Feltham, there is limited accommodation surrounding Dores Beach for backpackers and those on a budget. Dores can also only be accessed by the B852 and B862 roads which do not have frequent public transport links.
Alternatively, you can find more accommodation available at the Loch Ness Clansman Hotel, located about 11 miles south of Inverness on the A82 road. This is well connected both to Inverness, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Fort William and the Isle of Skye by the 917 & 919 Citylink buses, but again does not offer budget accommodation, with rooms starting from around £100 in March 2026.
So what is the best option if you want to be directly on the Loch, staying in affordable accommodation with beach access? Staying at the Lochside Hostel in Alltsigh would prove the best balance of all here, with a beach just steps away from the bedrooms, and dorm beds starting from just £23 in March 2026.
What Does “Staying on Loch Ness” Really Mean?
Given that the Loch itself is 27 miles long, it soon makes sense to most travellers that the Loch marks more of a region than a single destination. That means that the broad variety of locales offering accommodation all come with different 'feelings' about whether you're staying on the Loch, around the Loch, or in some cases more like, 'near' the Loch.
Accommodation in Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus is unlikely to have a direct Loch view from your window, though they will be just a short walk to the shoreside - in Drumnadrochit you can access the Loch directly through Uruqhart Bay Wood, and in Fort Augustus at the Loch Ness Viewpoint a short walk down Oich Road.
Alternatively, if you stay at Lochside Hostel, which is a short bus journey or drive from either destination, you'll to have access to a beach right outside of your accommodation, the only hostel on the Loch with direct beach access.
What Is It Like Staying Overnight on Loch Ness?
Depending on where you stay, you can get a very varied experience. Visitors who stay in the tourist villages of Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus can take advantage of a selection of restaurants and pubs, and be able to take a stroll down to the shoreline in the evening. Expect the atmosphere later at night to be quiet, safe, and pleasant.
If you choose to stay at a more remote location like Lochside Hostel, don't expect to be without things to do, however! There are nightly social events hosted by the team there, including Traditional Scottish Folk Dancing (called a Ceilidh), Pool Tournaments, Quiz Nights, Evening Group Swims in the Loch and more!
While Lochside Hostel does not have a restaurant or cafe (meaning it's best to stock up and prepare a little before arriving), it does have a small shop which sells drinks, snacks, alcoholic beverages, frozen and tinned food, pasta, and more. With much more affordable prices than the tourist hubs, this makes it a great chance to socialise, save money, and enjoy direct access to the water.
Can You Swim or Kayak on Loch Ness?
In short: yes. It is essential you are prepared safely for either, but if you choose to visit Loch Ness it is possible to both swim and kayak - just be ready, as the Loch water does not exceed 5°C all year round! A wet suit is recommended, but if you're particularly brave and go without, make sure someone is safely on shore to give you a hand if you need it.
It is also possible to kayak on Loch Ness, with Lochside Hostel being home to the area's only 24/7 kayak rental service available to all (and with discounts for guests staying at the hostel). The Lochside Hostel Kayakomat launched in 2024, and offers 2 hour rental slots from just £29 in 2026.
Is It Better to Stay in Inverness or Directly on Loch Ness?
While there is a regular bus service throughout the daytime to destinations on Loch Ness from Inverness, it's wise not to treat it as a daytrip unless you're only prepared to see a small portion of what the area has to offer, and to make sure you fit in enough time for sufficient Nessie-hunting!
You'll be able to visit one or two stops along the Loch using the 917 and 919 Citylink bus service, which is not routine enough to mean you can hop-on and hop-off throughout a single day.
Alternatively, consider staying one or two nights at a location on or around the Loch, to soak up the unique atmosphere and experience, make the most of incredible Highland views which are not there in the city, and spend an evening Ceilidh dancing at Lochside Hostel if you're lucky enough!
How to Get to Loch Ness Without a Car
The only regular and reliable service from Inverness or Fort William to major attractions on Loch Ness is provided by Citylink, whose 917 bus travels from Inverness to the Isle of Skye twice a day in each direction via Drumnadrochit, and Alltsigh, and the 919 bus travels regularly throughout the daytime from Inverness to Fort William via Drumnadrochit, Alltsigh and Fort Augustus.
All of the aforementioned locations have hostel accommodation available during the spring, summer and autumn months (March-October). Single tickets on Citylink buses 917 & 919 start from £3.90 to destinations like Abriachan at the top of the Loch, and from £7.20 to popular backpacker destinations like Drumnadrochit and Alltsigh.
Ensure you provide ample time for a transfer between a train or bus arriving in Inverness or Fort William, as the last Citylink buses leave in the early evening over the summer and late afternoon over the winter. You can tack on a stay in the walkable, safe, tourist-friendly city of Inverness for one night if your itinerary allows. Beds at Inverness Student Hotel in the city centre start from £16 in 2026.
So, Where Should Backpackers Stay on Loch Ness?
If you want views of the Loch, there are many accommodation options available, not all of them falling within a tidy backpacker budget. If you want access to a beach, there are very few options, especially affordable ones. Adding on making the most of your experience with nightly social events, kayak hire, and great facilities, Lochside Hostel in Alltsigh is the clear choice.
If you use the code TRAVEL15 when making a reservation, you can get 15% off your stay midweek this April at Lochside Hostel in Loch Ness, exclusive to the Scotland's Top Hostels Travel Guide:
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